2007 Atlanta Falcons Preview

2007 Atlanta Falcons preview from MadduxSports.com. Once the football campaign kicks off order our winning picks on NFL games. as well as bookmark the NFL point spreads page so you can assure yourself the best line on every nfl bet you make.

NFL South Will Be A Dog Fight
By Adam Barone

Bringing in former Louisville coach Bobby Petrino could be the energizer that Michael Vick's Falcons have been seeking. In a particularly ironic situation, the Falcons hired the architect of an extremely balanced Louisville offense that resembled a “pro” offense more than almost any other college attack. This is only ironic because the 2006 Falcons, centered around one of the league's most dynamic yet perplexing weapons, Michael Vick, operated in a run-dominated system - likely the most similar in the NFL to that of a “college” offense because of its reliance on the run. This discrepancy can only mean that things will be changing in Atlanta.

The team will no doubt stick with Vick as their quarterback for the immediate future, but how long he'll remain the face of the franchise could be uncertain. Having traded backup Matt Schaub to the Texans means that the Falcons are saying that Vick is still their man.

Michael Vick is a fantastic weapon in a video game - in fact he's nearly unstoppable. In reality, however, repeatedly running that play where he just runs around all the other guys somehow just hasn't seemed to get the Falcons deep into the playoffs. He also has a fantastic arm, yes, but if it's inaccurate and all of his receivers seem to have had their hands amputated … well, obviously it will be difficult for the passing game to be consistent. Can Michael Vick carry a team? Judging from the past few seasons, the answer seems to be “no.” The fact that a respectable receiver like Peerless Price can go from 94 receptions for 1252 yards with Buffalo in 2002, then suddenly drop off the face of the earth the following season in Atlanta says something. It says that both the coaching staff and Vick need to establish a down field passing attack that incorporates more than just Alge Crumpler.

This year the receiving corps will consist of Joe Horn, Michael Jenkins, Roddy White, and an injury-prone Brian Finneran. Horn will likely be the #1 option, but he only caught 37 balls in 10 games with the pass-happy Saints last year. The good news however, is that, to this point, his hands have not been amputated.

The Falcons picked up DE Jamaal Anderson and CB Chris Houston, both out of Arkansas, in the first and second rounds of the draft to help out a defense that gave up a very improvable 229 passing yards per game in 2006. Houston will play opposite DeAngelo Hall in the secondary, with Anderson opposite John Abraham on the line. These are two holes that sorely needed filling, and once the former Razorbacks grow accustomed to the NFL, the Falcons will likely field quite the formidable defense.

With Warrick Dunn and Jerious Norwood in the backfield, the Falcons should still be able to establish the run, especially with the addition of G Justin Blalock through the draft. Most experts will have the Falcons as a big long shot to do much of anything in 2007, but many casual fans may sway their value in sportsbooks and the world of sports gambling simply because Michael Vick is one of the most dynamic athletes in America.

2007 Atlanta Falcons Predictions

Expect Atlanta to be inconsistent for a period of time while Petrino and Vick adjust to one another. The likely solutions being either Petrino's love for offensive scheming bringing him to find a way to adjust to Vick's unique abilities, or the Falcons struggling through the ‘07 season and possibly giving up on Vick entirely and searching for a replacement for ‘08.

If you enjoyed reading our Atlanta Falcons preview read up on the rest of the NFC South rivals like the Saints, Panthers, and Buccaneers team previews from Maddux Sports.

Related Pages:
Official Site
NFL Football Gambling